Habitat associations of coastal wintering passerines

The species composition, relative abundance and vegetation community associations of a wintering passerine assemblage were studied on 7 sites in north Norfolk between 1989 and 1994. A total of 20 species was recorded including coastal specialists as well as habitat generalists; relative abundance varied greatly from Chaffinch and Great Tit with single records, to Twite and Skylark with many hundreds. Most species showed strong association with, and aversion to, particular vegetation community types, but the relationships with vegetation communities varied between species. The communities with the higher bird densities were Limonium, Suaeda vera and Suaeda/Salicornia saltmarshes. Amongst the least used vegetation communities were Halimione saltmarsh and mobile dunes. There was little evidence of any seasonal change in habitat associations. The findings are discussed both in terms of vegetation community availability in north Norfolk and in the wider context of coastal zone planning and the threats and opportunities open to wintering passerines by differing responses to sea-level rise in eastern England.